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Community in Action: Racism in American Policing
January 16, 2023 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Within the first few days of the new year, a mob of Trump supporters and extremist groups stormed The Capitol, fighting police and security. They broke into The Capitol, destroyed windows and furniture, injured police, and invaded senate chambers and rooms.
If we compare this “protest” to the Black Lives Matter protests, we can see how differently this was handled in the face of the police. People who peacefully protested for the rights of black people to live like any other human being got hurt, shot, and killed by the police. This isn’t new, and this narrative dates back decades, when blacks were forced into free labor as slaves.
This event will focus on educating you on the history of policing and the racism built into it. We will start by watching the video “The Racist Origins of the US Police Force”, a video that elucidates how policing today is rooted in the history of slavery in the United States. Be ready for an open discussion about the police force, how this has affected you personally, and the Defund the Police movement.
Join us to get informed, listen to others’ experiences, share yours, and learn how to take action in your community as an anti-racist!
ARCC First Official Fundraising Event: ARCC & Enki Brewing “Diversity Tastes Great – Better Together” T-Shirt Awareness Campaign!
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At ARCC, we believe that as people, we are better together than we are apart because our differences make us stronger, wiser, and more empathetic when we UNITE. Starting November 27, 2020, show your support for ARCC and our vision of creating a racism-free society by purchasing and wearing our “Diversity Tastes Great – Better Together” T-shirt, co-designed and sponsored by Enki Brewing in Victoria, MN. This is ARCC’s first official fundraiser, with 100% of your $20 purchase price going directly to support ARCC programs. Get your shirt by clicking this link: https://enki-brewing-company.square.site/s/order?fbclid=IwAR1AtK00UbEtFCS-Vv-su7ymb_-jFDvb78LNrbqGy2z9LOF3yfSsrJMjB_Y&shipping=true
And share a photo of yourself on social media, tagging ARCC and Enki, proudly wearing your t-shirt, beer in hand if appropriate, encouraging us all to role model both the Greatness of Our Diversity and the fact that We All Are Better Together!
“Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Book Club With Pastor Dean Seal
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Listen to all 4 episodes of our book club!
Are you overwhelmed with where to start reading about anti-racism work? Please join us for our Introductory ARCC Book Club event, “Understanding A Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with Pastor Dean.” We will be meeting on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM Central from 11/24-12/15 over Zoom Meeting ID 914 4731 6843, Password: king. Each session will be recorded, so don’t worry if you miss a week; you can always catch up!
This 4-session series unpacks the power and clarity of Dr. King’s letter he completed while in jail during the 1963 Birmingham Campaign to end unjust segregation laws. This text is, in Pastor Dean’s mind, the key to understanding why the teachings of Jesus are more relevant now than ever before. They are a foundation of lived ethics and a public “call to action” to fight injustice in an unjust world. Hear in Dr. King’s own words that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws and to take direct action, rather than waiting forever for justice to come through the courts. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
The letter was written in response to “A Call for Unity,” written by 8 clergies asking King to stop demonstrating because it was upsetting white people, especially “Christians,” who thought he should be more patient. King’s response is polite and respectful, filled with genuine love that he showed anyone on the opposing side. But he pulls no punches. He spells out the Four Steps to create a campaign of Direct Action. We will learn how nonviolence is a powerful act of love. He reminds us: “‘Wait,’ almost always means ‘Never.’”